The Metropolitan Police have apologised after their errors meant that Delroy
Grant was left free to commit some of the most "awful and disturbing
crimes" in the history of Scotland Yard.

Grant, dubbed the Night Stalker, preyed on pensioners for nearly 20 years, breaking into their homes in the middle of the night and sexually assaulting them. He attacked 203 victims from 1992, but detectives believe the real number is at least 500, with many victims too ashamed to come forward.

Delroy Grant convicted of Night Stalker sex attacks

But in 1999 the Metropolitan Police had an opportunity to catch Grant, yet a basic error meant he was allowed to go free. In the following ten years he attacked at least 143 pensioners.

The error followed a burglary at a house in Bromley in May 1999. A car seen leaving the scene was found to belong to Delroy Grant, but officers focussed on a man with a similar name and so Grant was eliminated from the enquiry.

Today Scotland Yard apologised for the embarrassing blunder. Commander Simon Foy, the head of homicide and serious crime at Scotland Yard, said: “In 1999 there was an opportunity to have identified and apprehended Grant but that opportunity was missed.

“We eliminated the wrong person. We acknowledge there was a fault and we acknowledge we could have caught him in 1999 and we apologise for what happened.”

“We are deeply sorry for the trauma suffered by all those victims and our failure to bring Grant to justice earlier.”

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has recommended that two officers who ruled Grant out of the enquiry prematurely be disciplined, but they will keep their jobs.

Yesterday he was found guilty of a series of sex attacks and late night burglaries on 18 elderly victims. But now it can be revealed that Grant’s true number of victims is at least 203. He carried out 20 sexual assaults and four rapes.

The rest of his victims were subjected to horrific late-night burglaries during which he would leave his victims – some of whom were as old as 93 – without electricity or a telephone line.

Detectives believe he could be responsible for a total of 500 offences, but fear many victims have been too ashamed to report them.

During his trial Grant concocted a story in an attempt to explain why his DNA was found at the scenes of many of his crimes.

He said that his ex-wife Janet Watson, from whom he split in 1979, had stored his semen and body fluids and had a male friend commit the crimes in an attempt to frame Grant.

The prosecution described the claims as “utter, utter rubbish’” and questioned how his ex-wife, in 1979, would have the forethought to stage such a plan, given that scientists had not even invented DNA technology when the couple split.

After the conviction, Mr Foy described Grant as “perverted, callous and violent”. He said that his crimes were among the worst ever investigated by Scotland Yard and added: “For a period between 1992 and 2009 he preyed on elderly people in south-east London, violating them and their homes, and causing deep distress and trauma to his victims and their families.

“He was also feared by many people living in the same communities and it is not too dramatic to say when he was caught thousands of people in south east London were able to switch out their lights and go to sleep without the dreadful thought they would be preyed upon by Grant.”

“Grant is a perverted, callous and violent individual who is a sexual predator, rapist and night-time burglar who preyed on the elderly.

“There may be some speculation, even fascination, as to who he is, how he operated and what drove him to commit such crimes.

“But among all of that it should not be forgotten what a dangerous and calculating individual he is.

“He has said absolutely nothing to us about this offending and he has not shown any sense of remorse for what he has done.”

Andrew Hadik, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “We may never know exactly why Delroy Grant raped and attacked so many innocent people over the last 17 years – he has steadfastly refused to admit any responsibility or to show any remorse.

“His vicious attacks, masked with a contemptuous politeness towards his victims, traumatised people who should have been enjoying the security and comfort of their own homes.

“The bravery of Grant’s victims, who had to relive their ordeal while giving statements to the police and assisting with the investigation, was pivotal in bringing him to justice. We thank them for their courage and for helping to put an end to Grant’s crimes.”